| Peace and
Healing
The ultimate goal of the Simnuke Project is to
further peace and healing by generating awareness.
This simulation is an act of protest, a way
to awaken the public to the persistent threat of the world’s
nuclear stockpiles and reemerging research into so-called
"tactical" or "usable" nuclear weapons
lurking just below the surface of our daily lives. Bringing
the events long forgotten after 60 years into the present
is a tool for healing – by creating a close connection
with the destructive nature and history of nuclear technologies,
peace will become the higher option.
The Simnuke Project is supported by two leading
nuclear policy groups - The
Nuclear Age Pace Foundation and The
Nuclear Policy Research Institute - helping us further
the reach of the anti-nuclear statement we are making.
Furthermore, we draw upon the artist community
to interpret the bomb, nuclear energy, and their effects
on society in their own ways.
The Trinity Grove
With the help of Tree New
Mexico and the local community, we intend to plant 60
trees in the fire-damaged areas above Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Each tree is a point of healing, a point of honor to the
environment, and a lasting show of respect to those who
have lost their lives because of nuclear technology. A single
tree for each year since the Trinity event, symbolizes the
growth that has happened in the time that has passed.
This grove represents our stewardship over
our project, our duty to the earth and to the victims of
the Atomic Age, and to have a lasting positive legacy. With
sufficient interest, this could be an ongoing pilgrimage
– to plant a tree each year going forward. We intend
to have the site marked with a stone and plaque.
We are exploring options for locations of
this grove on both public and private lands.
Environmental Impact and Harm
Reduction Plan
Simnuke can be seen as a very destructive project. In one
performance, we will burn an estimated 600 gallons of fuel.
However, we believe that the Simnuke Project delivers an
important and powerful message.
We are environmentalists, and are planning to use the most
ecologically responsible means possible to execute this
project. This project has two primary sources of environmental
impact: consumption of hydrocarbons and large flame.
By using primarily biodiesel (which is created
from recycled vegetable and fry oil) as our fuel, we avoid
contributing to the problems of a petroleum-based world
by using hydrocarbons that are part of the carbon cycle.
Even so, the Simnuke project intends to end up with a significant
net negative carbon use through two other means:
First, the planting of the Trinity Memorial
Grove is a way to help reduce the carbon emissions that
we will release with this project. Each tree planted will
absorb an average of approximately 46 pounds of carbon dioxide
every year as it grows, and 60 trees would equal roughly
in excess of 2760 pounds per year. Thus, the grove will
absorb considerably more carbon dioxide over the course
of a few years than the project will generate.
Second, for each fan used in the project,
we will also purchase “Green
Tags” from the Bonneville
Environmental Foundation, supporting the development
of clean renewable energy.
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